The Best Family Photo Locations in Chicago’s Southwest Suburbs

Choosing the right location is one of the first steps in planning your photography session. It helps set the tone for your photos, inspires your wardrobe, and gives me a starting point as I plan poses, prompts, and activities that feel natural to your family.

Whether you envision golden fields, colorful gardens, a quiet lake, historic architecture, or a relaxed session at home, the Chicago suburbs offer so many beautiful options.

My location guide includes some of my favorite photography locations throughout Palos, Lemont, New Lenox, Mokena, Homer Glen, Lockport, Oak Brook, Elmhurst, Lombard, and the surrounding Chicago suburbs. You don’t have to choose completely on your own, though! I’ll help narrow down the options based on the season, current scenery, lighting, your session type, and the overall look you’re drawn to.

Here are a few of my favorite locations for family, maternity, couples, engagement, senior, and milestone photography sessions.

Lake Katherine in Palos Heights

Lake Katherine is one of my favorite hidden gems for family photos in Palos Heights. It offers a lake, waterfall, wooded trails, bridges, and tall grasses—all within a relatively small area.

The variety makes it easy to create a full gallery with several different looks without requiring families with young children to walk far. Lake Katherine photographs beautifully throughout the year, but spring greenery, glowing summer evenings, and fall foliage are especially pretty.

It can become busy during weekends and peak fall dates, so weekday evenings are often best.

The Palos Preserves

The Palos Preserves offer miles of wooded trails, open fields, lakes, tall grasses, and mature trees. They’re a wonderful choice for families who want their photos to feel natural, relaxed, and a little adventurous.

Because the preserve system is so large, I’ll recommend a specific meeting spot based on the season and what is currently photographing best. Some areas are filled with lush greenery in summer, while others are especially beautiful during October and early November.

The Palos Preserves are ideal for family, maternity, couples, engagement, milestone, and senior photography sessions.

Hadley Valley in New Lenox

Hadley Valley is a favorite New Lenox family photography location because of its open fields, tall grasses, tree-lined trails, and soft evening light. There is plenty of room for children to move, explore, and play, making it especially well suited for relaxed and child-led family sessions.

Late summer brings warm golden grasses, while September offers early fall tones. October is beautiful for richer foliage and earthy colors.

Hickory Creek Near Mokena

Hickory Creek offers open meadows, golden fields, wooded trails, bridges, and plenty of natural texture. It’s peaceful and spacious, which helps sessions feel relaxed and gives children room to move naturally.

This location photographs beautifully throughout the year, from summer greenery to golden fall tones. Sunset sessions work best because many areas are open and receive direct sunlight earlier in the day.

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

Waterfall Glen is perfect for families or couples who want a wooded, adventurous setting. It offers forest trails, towering trees, rustic paths, and a beautiful waterfall.

The waterfall is approximately a half-mile walk from the parking area, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Waterfall Glen can become crowded during summer and on fall weekends, making weekday sessions ideal.

It remains beautiful throughout fall and into November, with peak color typically arriving in late October.

Mayslake in Oak Brook

Mayslake is one of the most versatile photography locations in Oak Brook. It combines historic architecture with lakes, ponds, trails, prairie grasses, and mature trees.

Spring and summer offer lush greenery, September brings golden grasses, and October is especially beautiful for fall family photos in Oak Brook. Even after the leaves have fallen, the historic architecture and neutral prairie tones continue to provide interest.

Because Mayslake is popular with photographers and visitors, weekday sessions are often best. Available areas may also vary during improvements to the estate.

Wilder Park in Elmhurst

Wilder Park offers colorful gardens, tree-lined walkways, a fountain, greenhouse, and charming architecture. It’s a polished and timeless option for family, maternity, engagement, senior, and milestone photos in Elmhurst.

Spring and early summer typically offer the most vibrant gardens and flowers. The park can become busy on weekends, so weekday evenings are best for a quieter experience.

Lilacia Park in Lombard

Lilacia Park is known for its colorful gardens, winding paths, mature trees, pond, tulips, and lilacs.

Mid-April through early May is best for tulips, while late April through mid-May typically offers the most beautiful lilacs and peak spring blooms. Summer provides maintained gardens and greenery, while October creates a classic park setting with fall color.

Peak bloom season can be extremely busy, especially during Lombard’s Lilac Time events, so weekday sessions are strongly recommended.

Downtown Lockport

Downtown Lockport is a great choice for clients who want something more urban and architectural. Historic limestone and brick buildings, textured walls, sidewalks, the I&M Canal, trails, and Lincoln Landing provide plenty of variety within walking distance.

This location works throughout the year. It’s especially helpful during early spring, late fall, or winter when fields and gardens may have less color. During warmer months, we can combine downtown architecture with greenery along the canal.

Downtown Lockport is especially fun for senior, engagement, couples, family, and milestone photography sessions.

A Quiet Lake in Homer Glen

This peaceful Homer Glen location offers a quiet lake, mature trees, walking paths, and soft natural scenery. It is generally less crowded than larger parks, allowing sessions to feel relaxed and private.

May through August provides lush greenery and beautiful evening reflections over the water. September brings subtle early fall changes, while October typically offers the richest foliage.

Siemsen Meadow in Tinley Park

Siemsen Meadow offers open fields, tall grasses, and mature trees for a soft, natural backdrop. Directly across the street, a lake, walking trail, and beautiful trees provide even more variety without needing to drive to another location.

The meadow is especially beautiful during summer evenings, September’s golden grasses, and the changing colors of October. Because it is mostly open, sessions close to sunset provide the softest and most flattering light.

Beach Photography Sessions

Beach sessions are relaxed, playful, and perfect for families who love the water. Soft sand, open shoreline, dunes, grasses, and sunset light create a timeless backdrop with plenty of room for children to move and explore.

Summer is the most popular season for beach photography, although late spring and early fall can also be beautiful and less crowded. Beach sessions may take place at Beverly Shores or another carefully selected location depending on accessibility, permits, seasonal conditions, and the look you want.

Parking Garage and Urban Sessions

Parking garages create a modern, urban backdrop and are a fun alternative to traditional fields and parks. They work especially well during late fall and winter when natural locations have fewer leaves and flowers.

These sessions can incorporate bikes, skateboards, or other activities that reflect your family or senior’s personality. Exact parking garage locations vary depending on lighting, accessibility, availability, and photography restrictions.

In-Home Lifestyle Sessions

Your home can be one of the most meaningful locations of all. In-home lifestyle sessions tell the story of your family in the space where your everyday memories happen—without needing to pack everyone up or travel.

These sessions are ideal for lifestyle newborn photography, maternity sessions, and relaxed family photos. They typically take place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and rely entirely on natural window light.

How Do We Choose the Right Location?

You do not need to make this decision alone. My location guide is meant to help you explore the possibilities and notice what you’re naturally drawn to.

You can let me know if:

• A specific location immediately stands out.

• You prefer a certain type of scenery, such as fields, water, woods, gardens, or architecture.

• Staying close to home is most important.

• You’re comfortable traveling for a particular look.

• You would rather leave the decision completely up to me.

If you have no preference, I’m happy to select the location I believe will photograph best based on your session date, the season, current blooms or foliage, lighting, and your family’s needs.

Once we choose the location, I can also help you plan outfits that coordinate beautifully with the setting.

Explore the Complete Chicago Suburbs Photography Location Guide

Ready to find the perfect setting for your session? View my complete location guide for additional photos, seasonal recommendations, and helpful details about each location.

Location Guide.

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If you’re searching for a family photographer in Chicago’s southwest suburbs, I would love to help you create relaxed, connection-filled photos that feel like your family. Bree Marie Photography specializes in family, maternity, lifestyle newborn, milestone, couples, engagement, and senior photography throughout Palos Heights, Lemont, New Lenox, Mokena, Homer Glen, Lockport, Oak Brook, Elmhurst, Lombard, and the surrounding Chicagoland area.